Miami linebacker Sean Spence raises eyebrows with weak bench

The list of the weakest players on the bench press at this year’s Scouting Combine starts with seven wide receivers, and then a player who sticks out like a sore thumb: Miami linebacker Sean Spence.

Spence managed to put up just 12 repetitions at 225 pounds, which is perfectly good for a typical guy working out at a local gym, but not good at all for an NFL linebacker. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said Spence’s performance was troubling.

“This one bothers me because I loved this kid as a player,” Mayock said. “A 231-pound linebacker with instincts and speed. Come on. Have you been in the weight room? I don’t get that.”

In his session with the media, Spence acknowledged that his biggest problem on the field is getting off blocks, but he said teams that watch him on tape will see that he has elite speed.

“I think I’m a three down linebacker, very fast, I can go sideline to sideline,” Spence said. “I’m a smart, very instinctive player. I’m going to play hard. I’m a leader. I lead by example, and most of all I make plays.”

The good thing about a weak upper body is it’s something that can be improved with hard work in the weight room. But NFL teams will wonder why Spence hasn’t already done that hard work in the weight room.

Michael David Smith says “Spence managed to put up just 12 repetitions at 225 pounds, which is perfectly good for a typical guy working out at a local gym…”

Really? Most dudes at the “local gym” couldn’t bench 225 ONCE! I’m betting not one guy who writes for this site could do it more then three times, if at all.

Yeah I get that his numbers weren’t good compared to his peers but this notion that benching 225 12 times is “weak” is a joke especially when the guys questioning it couldn’t compete in a local semi-pro league.

Yeah cause we all know how much insight the underwear Olympics give us for how players are going to perform on the field. All you guys mocking this kid have clearly never seen him play. This kid has ELITE instincts, you can’t teach that. Whoever gets this kid is gunna get a steal, great work ethic and he’s a leader in the locker room.

The NFL Combine benching competition is weird anyway. They should go for maximum weight (for one or three or five reps, whatever) or make them bench a specified weight per position (say 250 for a LB) 10-12 times for speed.

Now I’ve seen Spence play and he is a baller. You could tell his freshman year that he was going to be a draft pick one day. I don’t like when people who haven’t played the game at least on the collegiate level, criticize pro athletes, BUT 12 is really weak for a LB. There are plenty of wr’s, db’s, and maybe even kickers that can do more…lol. I still think Spence has a tremendous upside, This shows more of a lack of a desire to actually want to get stronger, which raises questions of intelligence because this is the biggest try out of his life. I still love the kid as a player though

Any LB should put up 20+ reps. Doesn’t need to be 40, but reality is the NFL is full of LB’s that can run like the wind and are capable of 30 reps on this drill. He might have been fast in college, but the NFL is a whole new ballgame.

Maybe he should get some tips from that “Shocking Muscle Pictures” dude in the ad on the right of my screen. Is your head supposed to be smaller than your biceps? Do they think we don’t know what photo-shop is?

Eagleswoot…the fact you’re not giving a large muscle group like your chest 2 days of rest shows your ignorance.

anyhow, 2 months ago i was able to 12 reps of 225…and i agree with the article that’s not very strong for an NFL linebacker where strength is at a premium (especially how strong ol/fb/te/rb can be). I’d have no desrie to try and tackle someone like brandon jacobs/m. turner/v davis/gates/etc..

and 225 10 times a gym isn’t that abnormal..there’s alot of big guys at my gym…it’s just the short 5’9 guys at the gym that can’t do it.

At age 50 I can still manage about 20 reps at 225 maybe I should get a tryout. This player just needs a little more work to work up past 12 reps,at his age with a little more dedication he should see a quick improvement, if not I’ll gladly train him.